The assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk transcended state and now country lines, with a memorial mass held by Czech Cardinal, Dominik Duka, in Old Town Square’s Lady Upon Tyn Church on Tuesday.
The iconic Prague church closed its doors to tourists at midday and welcomed hundreds of attendees, both Czech and American, to the memorial where Cardinal Duka spoke of Kirk’s commitment to Christianity and the importance of unity against political violence of any kind.
“We cannot agree that differences of opinion will be resolved by assassination. This is not the way, the world is in danger,” Cardinal Duka addressed the crowd, also condemning a recent school shooting in Minnesota, the stabbing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska, and the assassinations of Democratic politician Melissa Hortman and her husband.
A small group of counter protesters created a police-protected stronghold outside the church’s doors, holding signs of Kirk’s most controversial quotes, such as, “We need to have a Nuremberg-style trial for every gender-affirming clinic doctor,” taken from Kirk’s podcast.
Tensions rose as the mass ended and the attendees filed out, with shouts of “shame” coming from the counter protesters. The crowd surged as Cardinal Duka walked to his car, with loud honking sounding out amongst the shouts and applause.
Kirk follower and Ohio-native Beth Montgomery spoke to Lennon Wall about the posters of the counter protesters.
“It’s taken out of context, of course,” she said. “These are the ones I want. I’d love to pick a fight with a few of these [protestors].”
Despite Kirk’s mostly American following, the crowd of attendees were largely Czech, and the entire mass was held in the Czech language. Two Czech men were wearing “Make America Great Again” hats. Two other men were seen wearing shirts that stated, “I Love White People” and “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
American expat Isabella Monaghan reflected on the considerable Czech attendance of the mass. “Czechs do follow American politics,” she said. “It’s a big theme that I see in the news everyday.”
Her partner, Albert Krajčovič, a Czech native, agreed and explained his reason for attending.
“We believe it is necessary to express the support, as Cardinal Duka mentioned, also for the late Senator of Minnesota, and to express the honor and gratefulness that we have to speak our minds openly and have the freedom of speech that is so necessary for society.”
Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah University sent shockwaves around the globe, sparking both people who adored and despised Kirk’s rhetoric to come out and discuss the growing division in the political sphere.
By Alexander Tabares & Isabella Fattore
Thank you for sending this article about a challenging subject, written with eloquence and grace.
Judith Rivera Rosso, North Carolina, USA.